Automatic stick-feeding machine.



0. S. WINESBURG & I. G. PALMER.

I AUTOMATIC STICK FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJSl l9!!- Patented Apr. 1 5, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET h m: mmms Psvz 0. s. WINESBURG & L G. PALMER. v vAUTOMATIC STICK FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLICATI ON FILED AUG.6. 1911.

1,300,540, Patented Apr 15,1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2 0. S. WINESBURG & I. G. PALMER. I AUTOMATIOSTICK FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.6| 19H.

Patented Apr. 15, 1919,,

4 SHEETSSHEET 3- 0. S. WINESBURG & I. G. PALMER.

AUTOMATIC STICK FEEDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG.6. 1917.

1,300,540. I Patented Apf. 15,1919. I 4 smears-swan 4,

srnrus PATEN OFFICE.

OSCAR S. WINESBURG AND IRVIN G. PALMER, 0F ELKHART, INDIANA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

Application filed August 6, 1917. Serial No. 184,785.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, OSCAR S. WVINEs- BURG and IRVIN Gr. PALMER, citizens of the United States, and residents of the city of Elkhart, Elkhart county, Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Stick-Feeding Machines, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to machinery for drying freshly coated paper, or sized or printed paper, or other fabric, and more especially to the mechanism for feeding the paper carrying sticks, or laths, which support the looped paper as it travels through the drying room.

An object of our invention is the provi- -sion of improved devices for automatically feeding or supplying the paper carrying laths to the paper loop forming mechanism of the paper drying machinery, the automatic mechanism of our invention being particularly adaptable to that type of paper drying machine having the so called return conveyer lines in which the dried paper and lath are discharged or delivered adjacent the location where the freshly treated, or coated, paper is formed into loops immediately prior to its entry to the drying room.

While our invention is especially applicable to the fiat paper carrying lath, or stick, and such a lath is shown and described herein, nevertheless our invention may be used in those machines in which the fiat lath is not used. Other objects of our invention will be mentioned and described hereinafter.

The accompanying drawings clearly illustrate the referred embodiment of our invention which may be changed within reasonable limits without departing from the spirit thereof.

On the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of our invention applied to a paper drying machine, the latter being shown in fragment only; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of .our invention applied to the drier machine; Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 in which details of the magazine unit C and unit D are shown; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a special link used in the lath lowering chains of the magazine unit 0; Fig. 5 is a section taken on'the line 5-5 of Fig. 7 to disclose one of the lath conveyer chains of unit G; Fig. 6 is a view in elevation taken approximately on the line 77 of Fig. 1 showing details of the transfer and receiver box units E and F, respectively; Fig. 7 shows a section taken on the line 77 of Fig. 1; Fig. 8 shows details of the unit D which includes the lath supply chain to the lath transfer unit E, as well as other details cooperating therewith and isa section taken on the line 88 of Fig. 1; and Fig.

9 shows a section taken on the line 99 of a loop carrying unit; the letter C, the lath magazine unit; the letter D, the lath supply unit which connects unit C with unit E,

the latter beingthe lath transfer unit; the letter F, the lath receiver and supply unit for unit A; and the letter H, the driving unit or mechanism.

In the operation of ourinvention the inclined loop forming chains 1, 1 carrying lugs 2, 2, engage a fiat lath 3 and carry it up the incline against the sagging paper 1, whereby a paper loop is formed and subsequently deposited upon the chains 5, 5, of

the loop carrying unit B by which thesuc- 1 cessive paper loops are carried into and through a drying room (not shown) and ultimately deposited upon the lath discharge chains 7 7 of unit B by which the laths are conveyed to the magazine unit C, and from which the dried paper 4 passes over therollers 10 and 11 out of the machine for suitable disposition.

Thereafter, the laths 3 which accumulate in the magazine unit O are individually conveyed by the unit D to unit Eythence through the units F- and G and again deposited by the latter mechanism upon the chains 1, 1 of the paper loop forming unit A. The chains 1, 1 are suitably supported and guided by the inclined members 6, 6, and the lath carrier chains 7 7 are mounted upon the sprocket wheels 8, 8 which are carried by a shaft 12 suitably journaled in the en of the frame member 9.

Um't OLatk magazine.

The numeral 13 indicates the magazine frame wall on the opposite ends of which are disposed the end upright members 1 1, 14.

The numeral 15indicates a lath tilting block 7 by the sprockets 22, 22 mounted upon the idler shaft 18 which is suitably journaled in the bearing standards 20 and 21, and driven at their lower ends by the sprockets 23, 23

mounted upon the shaft 19 suitably jour-,

naled in said bearing standards. The numerals 24, 24 indicate a plurality of special carrier links inserted in each chain 17 and provided with a hinge pin 25 upon which a lath saddle 26 is pivotally mounted, said saddle being adapted to fold upwardly against the chain 17 when its under surface contacts with a lath 3 which may be reposing within the lath magazine to permit the--" passage thereof. While we show only four of said lath saddles 26 in Fig. 3 on each chain of said figure, any suitable number of the saddles may be used, a multiplicity being preferable to a paucity thereof, said saddles being adapted to receive and support lath when discharged from the chains 7, 7

of the unit B and lower it to the top of the lath pile already accumulated within the magazine'unit C. When a lath 3 is so discharged from the chains 7, 7 one end thereof is always arrested and temporarily carried by the block 15, causing the lath to partially rotate, whereby it ultimately lies flat on a pair of the chain saddles 26 by which it is lowered in a flat position, which position is very essential to effect accuracy and regularity of the subsequent movements of saidlath. A pair of upright chain partitions 27, 27 may be used between each chain 17 for maintaining its proper relation .with' the lath magazine. The numerals 28, 28 indicate a pair of magazine floor members arranged within the members 14, 14 and extending transversely of the magazine, being adapted to carry the lath accumulation within the magazine. See Fig. 9.

Unit D.

The numerals 29, 29 indicate a pair of endless lath transfer chains cooperating with unit C for the transfer of the laths therefrom to unit E, each offsaid chains hav ing a lug 30,adap-ted to simultaneously engage the bottom lath in the magazine and draw it therefrom for disposition in unit E. See Fig. 8.

Numerals 31, 31 indicate driver sprockets upon which chains 29, 29 are mounted at one end thereof, said sprockets being operatively mounted upon the driving shaft 32 which is actuated as hereinafter described. Numerals 33, 33 indicate idler or carrying sprockets supporting the opposite ends of the chains 29, 29, said sprockets being mounted upon a shaft 34 suitably j ournaled in the machine frame.

Um't E.

The numeral 35 indicates a lath transfer box positioned adjacent the forward'end, being the discharge end, of the chains 29, 29 and somewhat lower than said chains to facilitate the discharge of the laths 3 from the chains 29 into said box and the retention thereof by said transfer box; The box 35 may be open at both ends thereof andis provided with a pair of endless spaced chains 36, 36 which travel longitudinally of the box and within the grooves 37, 37 formed in the floor of said box, said grooves being adapted to position the chain links below the floor surface ofsaid box. At one, end of the chains 36 they are supported and driven by the sprockets 38,38 operatively mounted upon a driver shaft 39, the'opposite chain ends being carried by a pair of sprockets 40, 40 mounted upon a carrier shaft 41. Beneath the box 35 the chains 36 are engaged by the idler sprockets 42, 42 mounted upon the shaft 43 which is journaled in the brackets 44, 44. See Figs. 6 and '7.

Numerals 45, 45indicate two curved or semicircular lugs carried by the chains 36, 36 and adapted to move a lath 3 from the box 35 into unit F, each of said lugs extending substantially across the box and having its ends mounted upon the spaced chains 36, Each lug45 is of curved formation to'racut. tate the disengagement with the'rea'r end of the lath and to prevent the tilting-of the Units F and G.

The numeral 46 indicates a lath receiving and supply box which is open at the lath receiving end adjacent unit E and closed .at its opposite end, beingadapted to receive the laths delivered frombox 35 by the chains 36, 36. The numerals 47, 47 indicatera pair ofendless chains operating transversely of the box member 46 and in the grooves 48, 48 formed in the floor of'the box, and ed to supply the laths 3 to the paper loop forming chains 1, 1 of unit A hereinbefore described. The discharge end of the chains 47 is carried by the driver sprockets 49, 49, which are 'rigidlymounted upon a driving hereinafter described. The numerals 51, 51

indicate a pair of carrier sprockets upon which the chains 47, 47 are mounted and which are supported by the shaft 52 suitably journaled in the machine frame.

Numerals 53, 53 indicate a pair of lugs, one on each chain 47, and adapted to engage a lath for effecting movement thereof from box 46 to and delivery upon chains 1, 1. The numeral'54 indicates a swinging door forming the front Wall of the box 46 and hinged at 55, 55 upon the rod 56 and adapted to be swung open by the lath 3 when the latter is drawn forward by the lugs 53 to permit the lath passage, and adapted also, when in a normal closed position, to guide the incoming lath when the latter is being projected from box 35 into box 46 and for pro-perly positioning the lath within the box 46,

whereby sub-sequent accurate engagement of said lath by the lugs 53 is effected.

Um't HDm'oing mechanism.

Numeral 57 indicates an electric motor adapted to drive the various units of our invention and from which the driving chain 58 extends to an initial driving sprocket 59 which is rigidly mounted upon the main driving shaft 60. Numeral 61 indicates a driver sprocket rigidly mounted upon the shaft 60 and connected with shaft 50 by a sprocket 62, mounted upon the latter, and the sprocketchain 63.

The shaft 50 carries a sprocket 64 adjacent one end thereof which is adapted to drive the shaft 19 of unit 0 through the receiving sprocket 65, mounted upon the latter shaft, and the chain 66 connecting said sprockets. The counter shaft 67 is driven by the shaft 60 through a pair of bevel gears 68, 68, and the shaft 39 is driven by said counter shaft through the driver sprocket 69, mounted on said counter shaft, the chain 70 and the sprocket 71 mounted on the driven shaft 39.

For driving the shaft 32 of unit D a second counter shaft 72 is provided and driven from the first counter shaft '67 through the bevel gears 73, 73, the bevel gears 74, 74 effecting cooperation between the shafts 72 and 32 whereby the latter is driven. Generally, we have found that five pairs of the loop forming lugs 2, 2 suitably spaced on the chains 1, 1 are suflicient therefor when properly timed for registry with the one pair of lath actuating lugs 53 carried by the chains 47 47 of unit G.

We claim:

1. In combination with paper drying machinery and the loop forming mechanism thereof, the following elements in combination: a lath magazine, including means for receiving and lowering the lath into said magazine; conveyer members for extracting V the lath from said magazine and supplying a lath transfer unit; a lath transfer unit, including curved lath actuation members; a lath receiver unit; and a lath supply unit adapted to supply lath to the loop forming devices of the drying machinery.-

2. In combination with paper drying machinery and the loop forming mechanism thereof, the following elements in combination; a lath magazine, including means for tilting-the lath and means for lowering the lath into the magazine; conveyer members for extracting the lath from said magazine and supplying a lath transfer unit; a lath transfer unit; a lath receiver unit; and a lath supply unit adapted to supply lath to the loop forming mechanism of the dry ing machinery. V

3. In combination with paper drying machinery and the loop forming mechanism thereof, the following elements in combination: an upright lath magazine; conveyer members for extracting the lath from said magazine and supplying a lath transfer unit; a lath transfer unit arranged transversely of said conveyer members; a lath receiver unit cooperating with'said transfer unit and provided with means for guiding the lath as it enters therein; and a lath supply unit adapted to supply lath to the loop forming mechanism of the drying machinery.

4. In combination. with paper drying machinery and the loop forming mechanism thereof, the following elements in combination: a lath magazine; conveyer members for extracting the lath from said magazine and supplying a lath transfer unit; a lath transfer unit; a lath receiver unit cotiperating with said transfer unit and provided with a swinging member for guidingv the lath as it enters therein; and a lath supply unit operating transversely of said receiver unit and adapted to supply, lath to-the loop forming mechanism of the drying machinery.

5. In a device of the character described and in combination with a lath magazine and the means for delivering lath thereto, a

plurality of endless lath lowering members, said lowering members being provided with saddles each adapted to support a lath while it is being lowered into said magazine; and means for-actuating said lath lowering members.

6. In a device of the character described and incombination with a lath magazine and the means for delivering lath thereto, a plurality of endless lath lowering members, said lowering members being provided with foldable saddles each adapted to support a lath while it is being lowered into said magazine; and means for actuating said lath lowering members.

7. In a device of the character described and in combination with a lath magazine and the means for delivering lath thereto, an endless lath lowering device, said lowering device being provided with a plurality of yieldable saddles each adapted to support a lath while it is beinglowered into saidmagazine; and means foractuating. said lath loweringdevlce.

S II Iua =Vdeviceof the character described and inicombination; with a, lath magazineand the-means for delivering-lath thereto, a lath tilting member arranged upon one end of the: lath magazine and adapted to temporarily arrest one end of thelathas-it is delivered for disposition in the magazine, whereby the lath is ultimate1y=del1vered :in;

a fiat position in the magazine.

9. In a device: of the character described;

an upright lath magazine; a plurality of endless, upright traveling. lathe lowering members disposed adjacent the magazine,

said lowering .members havingrdownwardly movable sectlons cooperating with the magaa zine interior; means carried byrthe lowering i-amembers for supporting the lath; and=means for tilting/and temporarilyarresting one end of alath as it is delivered for disposition to the magazine,

10. :In adevice of the character described; :';a lath transfer receptacle; an endless-movable lathactuation device longitudinally 'ar-" ranged withinnsaid ilath receptacle;ra lug carried by said actuation device and movable therewith-, said dug; being- =of substantially :tcurved formation; and means for actuating saidr endless device longitudinally ofthe transfer Y receptacle.

11. In adevice-of the character described,

12. In a device ofthe character described a lath transfer boxthe floor whereofis provided With a plurality ofsubstantially parallel conveyer chain grooves; a plurality of endless conveyer chains movably; disposed Within said CllZLlIl' grooves; a substantrally curved lug carried bysaid chains and movable therewith; and means for actuating the conveyer chains and thereby said lug.

13. In a device of the character described,

a lath supply receptacle the-floor whereof is provided with? a transverse groove; an

actuation lug; a swinging member disposed adjacent the-supply receptacle-and composing,- one wall thereof and adapted to be swung open under con-veyer I actuation; and means for actuating said conveyer member.

15.; 11:11 adevice of the character described,

alatlrsupply box; an endless conveyer mem--- ber arranged transversely-of the supply box and provided with a lath: actuation lug a movable member disposed adjacent the supply box and composing one wall thereof and adapted toibe moved aside under conveyer actuation-topermit:thepassage of a lath; andmeansfor actuating said conveyer memben- I 16.-In adevice of the character described, I

a lath; supply box the floor whereof iscprovided with apair of spaced qtransverse grooves; a pair of endless conveyer chains oper-atively arranged in said 'supply, -boX- floor grooves; each chain being v provided with a lug; a swinging member disposed adjai'zent 1=the supply box and constituting substantiallyone side Wall thereof and adapted to be swungopen' under conveyer actuation;-

and means for actuating said conveyer 1nembers in unison.

17.; Incombination with paper drying.

chinery and the loop forming -mechanism thereof, the following cooperative elements in combinationz a :lath magazine; conveyer members forjextracting the-lath from said" magazine and supplying a lathi transfer unit; a i-lath transfer unit; a lath'receiv'er unit; and a lathisuppl y unit in cooperation with said lat-1r receiver-unit and adapted to supply lathpto:the'loop: forming devices of the drying machinery.-

' In testimony whereof we havehereunto aflixedour signatures this third day of August; 1917 OSCAR-S; WIN-ESBURG. IRV-IN G: PALMER.

Copies of. this patent may be-obtained forifive cents: each, by addressing the Gommissiqnerof Patents. Washington, D. O. 

